Opera

Der fliegende Holländer

Richard Wagner

Opéra Bastille

from 07 October to 06 November 2021

3h00 no interval

Der fliegende Holländer

Opéra Bastille - from 07 October to 06 November 2021

Synopsis

In 1839, on board the “Thetis”, the young Wagner heard the sailors evoke the legend of the “Cursed Mariner”. Stubbornly persisting in his desire to follow a dangerous course in a storm, a Dutch captain defies heaven and as punishment is doomed to eternally roam the seas unless a woman agrees to die with him. Senta recounts the legend when she first appears on stage. When the Dutchman suddenly appears, the romantic young woman does not hesitate to accept the hand he extends and that will lead her towards the ultimate sacrifice. Wagner’s first masterpiece, Der fliegende Holländer, brings together the themes dear to the composer: restless wandering, redemption through death and unbridled emotions all brilliantly conveyed by the orchestra. In his production, Willy Decker spares no effort in portraying the storm which rages as much in the music as in the protagonists’ hearts.

Duration : 3h00 no interval

Language : German

  • Opening

  • 180 min

  • End

Show acts and characters

CHARACTERS

The Dutchman: A cursed sailor in search of a woman’s redeeming love
Daland: A wealthy Norwegian sailor and merchant and Senta’s father. He has promised her to the Dutchman
Senta: Daland’s daughter, obsessed with the legendary figure of the Flying Dutchman
Erik: A solitary hunter, in love with Senta
Mary: Senta’s nursemaid who introduced her to the legend of the Flying Dutchman
The Helmsman: The helmsman of Daland’s ship
In order to escape from her petty bourgeois and mediocre environment, Senta, the daughter of the merchant Daland, has sought refuge in an imaginary world of passion. She dreams of the boundless freedom of the sea. Even as a child she would ask her nanny Mary to sing her the old ballad of The Flying Dutchman and since then the legend has gradually taken possession of her. She is haunted by the desire to free the poor sailor from his curse. An old picture of a strange pale-faced man becomes a relic for her as she cuts herself off more and more from the outside world.
A sudden storm blows Daland’s boat off course shortly before he reaches harbour. It is only thanks to a supreme effort that the crew are able to save the boat and its cargo. Extenuated, they all fall asleep. The steersman, whose turn it is to keep watch, tries to keep himself awake by singing, but he is soon won over by fatigue.
An unknown ship appears and a strange pale-faced man suddenly appears among the sleeping men. In an agonising monologue he blames his destiny: an ancient curse forces him to wander endlessly over the seas; he can only land once every seven years to search for “a heavenly angel”, that is to say, a woman who will swear him the eternal fidelity that will save him. When Daland awakes the stranger introduces himself as a rich Dutch seacaptain. Daland immediately anticipates the possibility of doing lucrative business with him. When the stranger confides that he is looking for a loving woman he promises him the hand of his daughter, Senta. The advent of a favourable wind allows the crew to resume their voyage. In Daland’s house the sailors’ wives work and sing as they await their husbands’ return. Little by little they make fun of Senta with their singing. Mary, who is more and more worried that Senta is losing touch with reality, desperately tries to snatch the accursed picture from her, but the latter insists on her nanny singing the ballad of the Flying Dutchman for the women. Horrified, Mary refuses and Senta decides to sing herself. She appears to be more and more possessed by her song and finally collapses. The other women look on, shocked and surprised. Meanwhile, Mary has been to look for Erik who loves Senta and is himself a lonely marginal. He informs the women that Daland’s boat is back at last. Remaining alone with Senta, he anxiously recounts his dream of the previous night in which he saw Senta fleeing across the sea with a pale-faced mariner. The young woman sees this as a clear sign that it is her destiny to save the sad Dutchman. Erik runs off in despair.
Suddenly the door opens and the stranger’s shadow appears on the threshold. Her father has scarcely left the two together before Senta swears eternal and unconditional fidelity to the Dutchman. Daland will celebrate their engagement that very day.
The sailors are joyfully celebrating their return home. Ever more provocative and mocking, they invite the crew of the unknown ship, who appear to be asleep, to come and drink with them. When the latter reply with ghostly laughter, everybody runs away terrified. Erik bombards Senta with bitter and desperate reproaches that she is hard put to deny. The Dutchman overhears their conversation and in turn believes he has been betrayed. Once again his hope for Redemption seems to be lost. He bitterly reveals his secret to all and hurries to his boat in order to take to sea.

Artists

Creative team

Cast

Orchestre et Choeurs de l’Opéra national de Paris

Media

  • Draw me Der fliegende Holländer

    Draw me Der fliegende Holländer

    Watch the video

  • Conducting The Flying Dutchman

    Conducting The Flying Dutchman

    Watch the video

Draw me Der fliegende Holländer

Watch the video

Understand the plot in 1 minute

1:43 min

Draw me Der fliegende Holländer

By Octave

In 1839, on board the “Thetis”, the young Wagner heard the sailors evoke the legend of the “Cursed Mariner”. Stubbornly persisting in his desire to follow a dangerous course in a storm, a Dutch captain defies heaven and as punishment is doomed to eternally roam the seas unless a woman agrees to die with him. Senta recounts the legend when she first appears on stage. When the Dutchman suddenly appears, the romantic young woman does not hesitate to accept the hand he extends and that will lead her towards the ultimate sacrifice. Wagner’s first masterpiece, Der fliegende Holländer, brings together the themes dear to the composer: restless wandering, redemption through death and unbridled emotions all brilliantly conveyed by the orchestra. In his production, Willy Decker spares no effort in portraying the storm which rages as much in the music as in the protagonists’ hearts.  

Conducting The Flying Dutchman

Watch the video

Interview with Hannu Lintu

4:47 min

Conducting The Flying Dutchman

By Coline Delreux

For his Paris Opera debut, conductor Hannu Lintu conducts The Flying Dutchman in a production directed by Willy Decker. With its widespread use of leitmotifs, continuous narration and references to myth, The Flying Dutchman is the first of Richard Wagner's so-called "romantic" operas. Hannu Lintu takes a look at the work.

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  • [EXTRAIT] Le Vaisseau fantôme by Richard Wagner (Michael Weinius)
  • [EXTRAIT] Le Vaisseau fantôme by Richard Wagner (Ricarda Merbeth & Tomasz Konieczny)

Access and services

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

Opéra Bastille

Place de la Bastille

75012 Paris

Public transport

Underground Bastille (lignes 1, 5 et 8), Gare de Lyon (RER)

Bus 29, 69, 76, 86, 87, 91, N01, N02, N11, N16

Calculate my route
Car park

Q-Park Opéra Bastille 34, rue de Lyon 75012 Paris

Book your parking spot

In both our venues, discounted tickets are sold at the box offices from 30 minutes before the show:

  • €35 tickets for under-28s, unemployed people (with documentary proof less than 3 months old) and senior citizens over 65 with non-taxable income (proof of tax exemption for the current year required)
  • €70 tickets for senior citizens over 65

Get samples of the operas and ballets at the Paris Opera gift shops: programmes, books, recordings, and also stationery, jewellery, shirts, homeware and honey from Paris Opera.

Opéra Bastille
  • Open 1h before performances and until performances end
  • Get in from within the theatre’s public areas
  • For more information: +33 1 40 01 17 82

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